In anticipation of the show’s Season 6 premiere Sunday, March 6 on Starz, we’re taking a look back at our favorite characters, starting with our most beloved (can you guess who it is?). And while we’ve ranked all the main characters that everybody knows, we’ve also thrown in a few surprises and blasts from the past (that’s a time travel joke, get it?) from previous seasons. Outlander also does villains really, really well, so we’ve rounded up a few characters we love to hate, too. And of course, we’re including all the multi-faceted female characters that Outlander is so well-known for. Keep reading to find out how we ranked our favorite Outlander characters and see if you agree—did we miss anyone?
Favorite Outlander characters ranked
1. Jamie Fraser
The top spot is really a toss-up between Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (SamHeughan)—but let’s be honest, most of us probably watch Outlander for the “king of men,” as Gabaldon calls him, that is James Fraser. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s played by the extremely good-looking and charismatic Sam Heughan, who is also a wonderful actor. Heughan has embodied the 18th-century Scottish Highlander with honor and integrity—but also with humor and enough flaws to make him a well-rounded and realistic character. The thing we love about Jamie perhaps most of all, though, is how even though he’s from the past, he is willing to change, forego outdated traditions, and admit when he’s wrong—a very modern attitude indeed. Plus, he’s also incredibly supportive, respectful and loving of his wife, Claire.
2. Claire Fraser
No matter what century she’s in Claire is a thoroughly modern woman. That’s just one reason why she’s also one of the best female characters on television, a woman with an agency who isn’t afraid to speak her mind (which sometimes gets her into dangerous situations). A combat nurse in World War II who then becomes a healer after she travels back in time to the 18th century, she’s resourceful and does everything she can to help others, but also puts herself and her needs first. Even with Jamie, she won’t take any nonsense, and isn’t afraid to assert herself in her relationship with him. Ironically, even though her unflinching attitude lands her in a witchcraft trial in the 18th century, she has even more trouble in the 20th, when she’s expected to act the part of the little pregnant housewife. This won’t do for Claire—instead, she goes to medical school and becomes a doctor.
3. Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser
Jamie’s gruff godfather is a softie at heart. We love Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) for his loyalty—he swore an oath to protect Jamie, and that he did until his dying day, which sadly happened last season at the Battle of Alamance. But TV viewers were actually on borrowed time with this fan favorite, whose life the writers wisely decided to extend to keep him on the show: In the books, he dies way back at the Battle of Culloden. We first got to love Murtagh as he traveled with Claire around Scotland in Season 1 looking for Jamie (who can forget him dancing onstage?). Then we loved him even more when Jamie and Claire let him in on their secret that Claire is from the future—and he accepted it. Murtagh also has a bit of a tragic backstory: He loved Jamie’s mother, Ellen, although she married another. Later, he has another doomed romance with Jamie’s Aunt Jocasta (Ellen’s sister) shortly before his death. RIP, Murtagh!
4. Lord John Grey
Fan-favorite Lord John Grey (David Berry) is beloved because he is also fiercely loyal to Jamie—plus, he’s just an all-around good person and stand-up guy; we literally break out in a smile whenever he shows up. Jamie first meets Lord John as a teenager, and spares his life; Lord John returns the favor later, but their relationship becomes much more than that. Even though Lord John is in love with Jamie, he recognizes that love will be unrequited, and never holds that against Jamie—instead, he is forever grateful for his friendship, and vice versa. Their relationship becomes even more intimate when Lord John adopts Jamie’s illegitimate son, William. As time goes on, Lord John continues to give assistance to the Frasers whenever they need it. He’s so popular he may even be getting his own spinoff show, based on Gabaldon’s spinoff book series; and in the meantime, we’ll see him in Season 6!
5. Black Jack Randall
We said there’d be villains on our list, and Black Jack Randall is the worst (er, best?) Outlander villain of them all! Brilliantly played by Tobias Menzies, this sadistic British soldier is almost pure evil, with just enough humanity peaking through to make him a complicated, complex character. For example, take his love for his brother, Alex: BJR actually married a dying Alex’s pregnant fiancée so that the baby would have money and position. Throughout his time on Outlander until his death at the Battle of Culloden at the beginning of Season 3, BJR committed some truly horrible, unforgivable acts of violence. Yet his onscreen presence is gripping, especially compared with the placid Frank Randall, also played by Menzies—their juxtaposition is striking, and highlights Black Jack’s cruel nature even more.
6. Marsali Fraser
Our next two characters are more evidence of Outlander’s commitment to strong female representation on screen. We gave Marsali (Lauren Lyle) the slight edge because she’s still on the show, and we can expect even more dramatic storylines for her in Season 6. Marsali is Jamie’s stepdaughter; her mother is the much-hated character of Laoghaire, who Jamie marries out of loneliness during the 20 years Claire goes back to the future. At first, viewers weren’t sure if the feisty Marsali was going to have the same sense of anger and vengeance that plagued Laoghaire. But soon, we see Marsali, while still retaining her strong-willed personality, develop and grow into a beloved member of the Fraser clan. Her fearlessness—and that she’s totally fine at the sight of blood—leads to her becoming an apprentice in Claire’s surgery, and the bright young woman takes to it quickly. And although we shouldn’t condone such and act, we were practically cheering when the pregnant Marsali sticks an injured Lionel Brown, who attacked Claire, with a fatal injection. Don’t mess with Marsali: She’s all about protecting her family.
7. Jenny Fraser
Talk about feisty! Jamie’s sister Jenny (Laura Donnelly) gives all the other strong female characters on the show a run for their money. She will always stand up for her family—or stand up to them, as she’s done many times with Jamie. Who can forget when she dumped a bucket of cold water on an arguing Jamie and Claire in Season 3? She’s also got some of the best zingers of any Outlander character. And although Jenny’s relationship with her sister-in-law Claire has had its ups and downs, seeing them grow closer was a highlight of Season 1. She even hopped on a horse days after giving birth in order to help Claire search for Jamie—expressing her breast milk in the woods and pulling a pistol on a Redcoat along the way. In flashback, we even see that she was brave and unfiltered enough to laugh at Black Jack Randall. That takes guts! Slight book spoiler: If the show follows the novels, viewers could eventually see Jenny again, although not in Season 6. We can only hope!
8. Fergus Fraser
Fergus is played by two actors, whose depiction of the character we love equally but for different reasons. As a child in Seasons 2 and 3, the young Romann Berrux made viewers go “aww” at his adorableness, and the way he takes to Jamie and Claire, who become his adoptive parents. And how he tries to act so grown-up: That scene of him on the battlefield at Prestonpans with his tiny knife, looking around in astonishment, just gutted us. He’s also cheeky: In Season 3, when his hand is cut off by a British soldier, he reminds Jamie of his promise to support him if he should lose an ear or a hand in his service. “I’m most lucky—in one stroke, I’ve become a man of leisure, non?” he says. Adult Fergus, played since later episodes of Season 3 by César Domboy, is a devoted husband and father—we just love seeing “Fersali” together, as the love they have for each other is a close second to Jamie and Claire’s. Some fans were disappointed that Fergus didn’t have a bigger role in season 5, but previews for Season 6 tease a major storyline for this beloved character.
9. Brianna MacKenzie
Claire and Jamie’s daughter Brianna (Sophie Skelton) is a divisive character among Outlander fans—some love her, and some, well, not so much. It’s true that she inherited both her parents’ stubbornness and temper, and that she can have a tendency toward self-centeredness. But when we first meet Brianna, she is just emerging from her teen years—plus, she’s just found out her mother is a time traveler and her biological father is from the 18th century, so it’s understandable why she would be so moody. In later seasons, Brianna emerges from her natural immaturity into a strong woman and mother, particularly after she goes back in time. Last season, she faced the man who assaulted her, Stephen Bonnet, and is the one to kill him in the end. We also love when she throws in little anachronisms from the 1960s—like doing the mashed potato, singing “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair),” making paper airplanes or eating PB&J’s.
10. Geillis Duncan
Time traveler Geillis Duncan (Lotte Verbeek) is a strong female character for sure—albeit an evil one. Althoughat first we’re not sure exactly whose side this complex character is on; she seems to be an ally for Claire after she travels back in time, and even shares her affinity for herbal medicine. Sure, she probably murdered her husband, but it’s not like women in the 18th century had a lot of choices. Turns out, though, she’s a black widow who’s murdered at least three husbands; plus, she’s also a sexual predator and kidnapper. Even then, though, she becomes a villain we love to hate: Emerging from a pool of goat’s blood? Escaping being burned at the stake for witchcraft? Reappearing in Jamaica as the wealthy and well-dressed “Bakra?” Only Geillis could pull it off.
11. Young Ian Murray
Like Brianna, Jamie’s nephew and Jenny’s son Young Ian (John Bell) starts off a bit immature, but in the last two seasons grew in strength and character. After settling with the Frasers in North Carolina, he finds a deep appreciation for Mohawk culture, and goes to live with them in exchange for Roger, who has been captured and is decidedly not tough enough to run the gauntlet—literally. Fans were happy to see Young Ian return to Fraser’s Ridge in Season 5, complete with a dark backstory of what happened while he was with the indigenous Americans. And although we didn’t like to see him suffer, his new intensity also served to add more gravity to his character.
12. Dougal MacKenzie
Jamie’s uncle Dougal MacKenzie of the bald head and white beard, complete with an amazing mustache, was neither hero nor villain—or maybe he was both. The War Chieftain of the MacKenzie clan had a commanding presence, especially as masterfully played by Graham McTavish (who now shows his sillier side on his travel show with Heughan, Men in Kilts). One minute cruel, the next loyal and almost kind, he’s a hard man to figure out—and that makes him a great character. Clan MacKenzie is the most important thing to Dougal, even if he secretly believes he should be running the show instead of his brother, Colum, with whom he has a complicated and uneasy relationship. He has a similarly strained bond with Jamie, especially after Claire comes on the scene—and well, they do murder him after all, in one of the most memorable Outlander deaths.
13. Frank Randall
Poor Frank! He always seems to get the short end of the stick. First, his wife disappears without a trace, only to inexplicably return three years later pregnant with another man’s child. Then even though their marriage disintegrates, they stay together, and Frank isn’t able to be with a new woman he meets and falls in love with. Then—he dies in a car crash. Although Frank is definitely not perfect—he can be rigid and inflexible, and doesn’t allow Brianna to know he is not her biological father—he is still, in general, a nice guy and a wonderful dad to Brianna, who idolizes him. Played by Tobias Menzies, Frank is a far cry from his ancestor and doppelganger Black Jack Randall—maybe because secretly Frank is not directly descended from Black Jack, but rather his kindly brother, Alex.
14. Joe Abernathy
Fan-favorite Joe Abernathy (Wil Johnson) is a minor character on the show, but one we wish we could see more of. Most of his appearances were in season 3, but viewers got a nice surprise when he showed up in Season 5, episode 5. Claire first met Joe in medical school in the late 1950s, where they are both outlanders of sorts: Claire because she’s a woman, and Joe because he’s Black. They bond because of this, and develop a deep (but platonic!) friendship as they both become doctors. He has a warm presence and sense of humor: He calls Claire “LJ,” which is short for Lady Jane, a nickname he gives her because of her British accent. Joe is the one to break the news to Claire that Frank has died, and later helps her decide whether to go back (in time, but she leaves out that part) to reconnect with an old flame—Jamie. Joe is also one of the few characters of color to make his mark on the show; and even though his storyline is mostly in the service of Claire, we would love to hear more about his own backstory. In the novels, Joe does appear again, so we’ll have to wait to see if he reappears on the show as well.
15. Roger MacKenzie
Even though he’s a major character, Roger (Richard Rankin) lands on the bottom of list because he’s been a bit inconsistent in his likability. He started out strong at the end of Season 2—a Scottish professor with a great beard and a penchant for turtlenecks? We were all for it. Plus, he seemed like a genuinely nice person, and supported Brianna as she dug into her family’s past. Things changed in Season 4, though. First, he shaved his beard, which may have been the source of all his nice-guy powers. In the course of that season, he shamed Brianna for wanting to have sex before marriage (although he’s already done the same), then he pressured her into getting married. Plus, he withheld some information from her about her parents, which they later argued about on their wedding night. Later, after she’s sexually assaulted by Stephen Bonnet, gets pregnant and isn’t sure if he or Roger is the father, Roger was indecisive about still wanting to be with her. Not to mention he really didn’t take to colonial life, and seemed a wee bit inadequate when it comes to the skills needed for survival in the 18th century. But, Roger does redeem himself somewhat in Season 5, becoming a devoted family man, going on missions for Jamie (albeit with mixed results), and even growing his beard back. The facial hair is in full force in Season 6, so hopefully, Roger’s character will continue on his upward trajectory. Next, check out the latest sneak peek from Season 6 of Outlander and find out which cast member calls it his favorite season yet!
